You might expect to feel intimidated visiting the Mayfair flagship Jo Hansford hair salon (Queen Camilla is a customer, after all) – but you won’t do. The care and attentiveness, as opposed to airs and graces, that are a hallmark of this place make sense when you consider the career path of top senior colourist Mia Newnham; it’s typical for many of the people working here.

Like plenty of her colleagues, Mia joined as an assistant (in 2009) and worked her way up benefiting from the salon’s strong ethos of education and collaboration, which puts the onus on not only passing on decades of hair colour and styling expertise, but also creates a work environment where the younger team members contribute their thoughts and ideas, allowing them to thrive and find their passion.

“It didn’t take long for me to discover that colour was my calling,” says Mia. “I was captivated by the creativity and precision behind transforming hair through colour, and I knew it’s what I needed to do for a living.”

With every hairdresser at the salon specially trained to focus exclusively on styling or colour, Mia was taught by colour legend Hansford herself and is as highly skilled at classic, polished looks as she is at bold, fashion-forward ones. For her, staying agile, creative, and ahead of the curve is
second nature.

That said, her personal passion is creating beautiful, face-brightening highlights that effortlessly stand the test of time. “There’s something so rewarding about finding that perfect shade, the one that lights up a client’s features, reflects their personality, fits seamlessly into their lifestyle, and makes them feel truly confident,” she says. ‘For me, it’s all about enhancing natural beauty with colour that feels authentic, flattering, and uniquely them.”

Mia’s personal approach is warm and easy-going, despite counting high-net worth people and celebrities among her regulars. “We’re proud to care for multiple generations, creating a warm, welcoming space alongside VIP treatment, attention to detail, in-depth, bespoke consultations and head-turning transformations for everyone, no matter where they come from,” she says.

What constitutes a job well done for her? “When my client leaves the salon with a fresh, confident glow and a definite spring in their step, I know I’ve reached my, and their, goal,” Mia says. “The right colour can be nothing short of magic.”